WJSH Art Team hits the town

With Halloween and the Oct. 24 “Treats on the Streets” event approaching, spooky decorations are popping up everywhere, especially store front windows. Led by Waseca Junior Senior High School art teacher Jean Follstad-Popp, a group of about 20 students spent a few hours the afternoon of Oct. 16 adding seasonal decorations to some of Waseca’s downtown storefronts. 

The painted windows are not only decorations, they’re meant to help trick-or-treaters determine which businesses are distributing items during the event, set for 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 24. There will also be arrows painted on the sidewalks outside.

Popp said she was pleased with the students’ work, and is glad their decorations were drawing attention. “I was hoping someone would notice, we want to get the word out about these kids and what they’re doing,” she commented that afternoon.

According to the high school’s website, the “Art Team” meets weekly to plan and to participate in “community service projects, art shows, art competitions and field trips.” 

Seventh-grader Charlotte Griffith is in her first year on the art team. Her “duck wearing a pumpkin” painting is among those on the windows of Edward Jones Investments, 119 State Street North (formally Fernbrook Family Center). When asked what inspired her duck painting, she replied, “We went inside and asked, so they gave us some ideas to work with. I just sort of went with it. They said for sure they wanted a pumpkin or something to do with pumpkins: It is Halloween after all.” Edward Jones is also passing out ducks for free, that may have had something to do with Griffith’s inspiration. Alongside Griffith’s painting at Edward Jones are a Frankenstein duck and ghost ducks.

Once Halloween is behind them, what’s next for the art team? They are going to work on the art case in the high school located near the art room. After that they’ve already begun working on a mural for the high school. The technique for designing and transferring a mural, according to Popp, is to draw the image full-sized on gigantic sheets of paper.  Once the image is satisfactory, students trace it onto the wall, then paint it. This is done in sections until the completed mural is finished. 

Art teacher Popp suggests that artists are always encouraged when people notice–and especially compliment–their work. “A little encouragement goes a long way,” she observed.